[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 2531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1317]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Availability of Draft Petition Evaluation Document/Environmental
Impact Statement
AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Petition Evaluation
Document/Environmental Impact Statement (PED/EIS) for Fern Lake,
Tennessee.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM)
of the United States Department of the Interior is making available for
public comment, the draft PED/EIS for a petition to designate certain
lands in the Little Yellow Creek (Fern Lake) watershed, Claiborne
County, Tennessee as unsuitable for all surface coal mining operations.
DATES: Written comments: OSM will accept written comments on the draft
PED/EIS until March 26, 1996.
Public Hearing: A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday,
March 12, 1996, at the address given below.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the PED/EIS: Single copies of the draft PED/EIS
may be obtained by contacting Willis L. Gainer at the address and
telephone number listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. A copy
of the PED/EIS is available for inspection at that address, and also at
the Claiborne County, Tennessee, and Bell County, Kentucky Courthouses.
Written comments: Written comments may be hand delivered or mailed
to Willis L. Gainer, Chief, Branch of Technical Assistance, Office of
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 530 Gay Street, S.W., Suite
500, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902.
Public hearing: A public hearing will be held at Middlesboro High
School Gymnasium, Middlesboro, Kentucky at the date and time listed
under DATES.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Willis L. Gainer, Chief, Branch of Technical Assistance, Office of
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 530 Gay Street, S.W., Suite
500, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902. Telephone: 615-545-4074. E-Mail/
Internet: wgainer@osmre.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The City of Middlesborough, Kentucky and the
National Parks and Conservation Association filed a petition with OSM
to designate certain lands in the Little Yellow Creek (Fern Lake)
watershed, Claiborne County, Tennessee, as unsuitable for all surface
coal mining operations. OSM has prepared a draft PED/EIS as required by
Section 522(d) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of
1977 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The draft PED/
EIS evaluates the potential coal resources of the area, the demand for
coal resources, and the impacts of alternative unsuitability decisions
on the human environment, the economy, and the supply of coal.
A public hearing has been scheduled as indicated above. Anyone who
wishes to comment will be given the opportunity to do so, but initial
comments will be limited to 10 minutes of oral testimony. Time limits
may be extended at the discretion of the presiding official. Persons
wishing to present testimony are encouraged to contact OSM at the
address given above. OSM would appreciate receiving a written copy of
the testimony four days prior to the public hearing, if possible. The
hearing will be transcribed. Filing a written statement at the time of
oral testimony is encouraged as this will facilitate the job of the
court reporter. A transcript of the hearing will be available at a
nominal fee approximately seven days after the hearing.
Dated: January 22, 1996.
Mary Josie Blanchard,
Assistant Director, Program Support.
[FR Doc. 96-1317 Filed 1-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M
